How do you pay for your Disney trip? This question echoes across the world, as I’m convinced through absolutely no scientific data that this is asked every second of every single day.
How can you make this special trip move from a dream, to a reality? I’m going to give you some ideas, whether it’s lowering the cost of your trip, or actually making the money to pay for it! You do the strategy that works for you, whether that is just one of these strategies, or a combination of all of them! If something doesn’t work for you, change it.
1.) Budget
Do you have a budget? If you don’t, you need one. You have to know where your money is going to learn how to make it work for you. It’s possible you’ll discover a subscription service you realize you are barely using- BOOM $8 a month in the Disney Fund. Are you appalled at how much you are spending on take out? Make some changes! BOOM, more money in your Disney Fund!
If you feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to start, consider Kristin Cooper’s Saving For Disney Course. It’s a course that presents a very approachable way to understand how to set up your budget, how to coupon, how to stockpile, etc. It’s great for beginners and more experienced folks alike.
2.) Surveys and Apps
There are so many different ways to earn! Here at Couponing to Disney we love Swagbucks, but don’t sleep on some of our other favorite apps, like CoinOut and Fetch where you literally get paid just to take a picture of your receipt- yeah it’s that easy. As far as survey-only sites go, I love Pinecone Research and often get to try new products too. Check out the incredible ways you can make money, then designate all these great earnings to your Disney fund!
3.) Buy Gift cards at Target
Wait what? Oh yeah friends, this is the easiest way to save. What if I told you that you could save 5% off your Disney right off the bat? That can be a serious chunk of money, we’re talking $250 off a $5000 vacation- and all you need is a redcard. Whether it’s a Target redcard credit card or debit card, you will save 5% off when you buy Disney gift cards. You can use these gift cards for almost anything on Disney property- we’re talking paying for your room, your food, and souvenirs! There are a few exceptions, like the pony rides at Fort Wilderness, or purchasing balloons which are cash only. The bulk of your trip is able to be paid for through these discount gift cards. It’s so easy and like we say in my family “you’d pick it up off the ground if you found it.”
4.) Use our Travel Agents
Kristin has spent a shocking amount of time interviewing and hand picking our travel agent partners to make sure you are working with honest, knowledgeable professionals who will make your trip as magical as possible. How do they help you pay for your trip though?
Travel Agents are free. Yes, totally free. They are paid by Disney, so their knowledge and expertise costs you nothing. As part of their free service, they will check when new discounts come out and make sure you get the best price possible.
Our Travel Agents have saved their clients up to $2000, though they seem to average around $600 savings on moderate stays. This of course depends on the discounts available, your personal package, etc- but any savings is a good savings and if you don’t know to look for it, or don’t want to spend hours on the phone trying to get exactly what you want, you’re going to end up paying full price. This means your Disney dream is going to take that much longer to become your Disney Reality. Our own Kristen B. had a $800 savings on her girl’s trip in 2019, so don’t think you only save big if you’re taking a large family! Some folks use this savings as a way to move up to their dream resort, without increasing their trip budget!
5.) Holidays
A great way to help fund your trip is to ask family! However, you don’t just call up mom and say hey…can you send me $500 for Disney? Nah, you ask for gift cards as a Christmas gift, cash for a birthday. Maybe you talk to the kids and say hey…how about Christmas is a little smaller this year, and we sock some extra money away into our Disney fund? If you worry you’ll spend it, put it on those gift cards you buy from Target that we talked about in #3. Then your cash gift goes that little bit farther!
6.) Side Hustle
Do you do a little something extra on the side? Maybe you have an opportunity to pick up a job one day a week, or you are an excellent crafter. Maybe you babysit twice a month, or you can mow a neighbor’s yard for a little something. Whatever you do, set that money directly aside for Disney. It’s tempting, so tempting, to finish up a craft and head to Starbucks, or to want to grab McDonalds for lunch because you’ve got a little extra money, but resist that urge friends! Keep your eye on the prize, whether that’s a picture of the castle in your wallet, or reading every article on the blog about Disney to keep your excitement going.
If you don’t believe these actually work, check out Kristen D. Earns Dollars (or my now finished Couponing to Somewhere series). See how Kristen B earns in her Fund Report, or check out how Brandy and Sara earn. Marisa is apply her savings towards her baby needs!
In the end, you’ve got this. You don’t have to go into serious credit card debt. You don’t have to wait forever. Your Disney dream is achievable. Will it always be easy? No- but what in life IS always easy, that’s worth having? Just save, save, save, and take advantage of every discount. You can do this!